Gomer

2This is how the LORD first spoke through Hosea. The LORD said to him, "Go and marry a woman who is not faithful. Have children who are not faithful too. The people of this land are not faithful to me either. They have turned away from me."

The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

NoteBeing faithful means keeping your promise to love only your husband or wife. God says his people did the same kind of thing to him. They started praying to other gods instead.

3So Hosea went and married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. She had a baby boy.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

4Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Name him Jezreel. Soon I will punish the family of King Jehu. They killed many people at Jezreel. I will also bring the kingdom of Israel to an end."

And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

NoteNames in the Bible often carried a message. Jezreel was the name of a valley and a town. Long before Hosea, a king named Jehu killed many people there. God says that family will now be punished.

5"On that day I will break the bows of Israel's army. It will happen in the valley of Jezreel."

And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

NoteA bow shoots arrows. It was the strongest weapon an army had. Breaking the bow is a way of saying the army will lose.

6Gomer had another baby. This time it was a girl. God said to Hosea, "Name her Loruhamah. I will not feel sorry for the people of Israel anymore. I will not forgive them."

And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

NoteLoruhamah means "not loved" or "no one feels sorry for her." The little girl's name was a message to the whole country.

7"But I will feel sorry for the people of Judah. I myself will save them. I will not use bows or swords or war. I will not use horses or riders. I am the LORD their God, and I will save them."

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

8Loruhamah grew big enough to stop drinking milk. Then Gomer had another baby boy.

Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

NoteBabies then drank their mother's milk for two or three years. So a long time passed between these two babies.

9God said, "Name him Loammi. You are not my people. And I am not your God."

Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

NoteLoammi means "not my people." Each child's name was another part of God's message.